House boot



Nov. 21, 1961 J. s. FOLK 3,009,269

HOUSE BOOT Filed April 14, 1960 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 James 8. Folk 1N VEN TOR.

Nov. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed April 14, 1960 4 m m 8 R. m, 4.n fi \\w 5 a MW V 9 y 4 8 m 3 2 @W B E ,0, w 4 x l w w W my 4. u E m. a .4. m i MW United States Patent 3,00%269 HOUSE BOGT James S. Folk, 604 E. Center St., Bellevue, Ohio Filed Apr. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 22,316 (Ilaiins. (Cl. 36-75) This invention relates to a novel and useful house boot construction, and more particularly to a house boot which is adapted to be removably secured to the lower portion of the shoe for preventing foreign material such as grease, dirt and the like clinging to either the soles or top of a shoe from soiling flooring or floor coverings.

The house boot of the instant invention is provided with an elongated sole portion of a size and shape to conform to the sole of a shoe. The sole portion of the boot has formed integrally therewith peripheral upstanding side walls which project upwardly from the sole portion to define a recess in the boot for receiving the lower portion of a shoe. A strap means is secured between opposite sides of the peripheral upstanding side walls and is adapted to be positioned in overlying relation to the vamp of a shoe positioned within the boot for securing the boot to the shoe. The sole portion and peripheral side walls of the boot are formed of a resilient material enabling normal flexing of the sole of a shoe positioned therein and the peripheral side walls are provided with inwardly projecting shoulder portions at their lower ends between Which the soles of the shoe positioned in the boot is received. The inwardly projecting shoulder portion on the peripheral side walls form a peripheral pocket between the upper ends of the peripheral side Walls and the adjacent surfaces of the shoe positioned within the boot wherein loose particles of soil and the like falling from the upper portions of the shoe may be collected and therefore prevented from falling on the floor or flooring surfaces over which the wearer of the shoe is walking. In this manner, not only is the flooring and/ or flooring surfaces over which the wearer of the shoe is walking protected from being soiled by foreign material clinging to the sole portions of the shoe, but any loose particles of soil and the like dislodged from the upper portion of the shoe Will also be prevented from soiling the flooring and/ or flooring covering.

The main object of this invention is to provide a shoe boot which may be quickly and conveniently removably secured to a soiled shoe of a wearer for preventing dirt and the like clinging to the sole and upper portions of the shoe from coming in contact with the flooring and/or flooring covering over which the wearer of the shoe is walking.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a house boot which is constructed of a resilient material whereby the shoe worn by the wearer may flex normally.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a house boot having relatively smooth intersurfaces which may be more conveniently and effectively cleaned after the house boot has been used prior to subsequent use.

And a final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a house boot which will conform to conventional form of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and little bother to use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the house boot show- 3,999,269 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 ing the manner in which it may be secured to the shoe of a wearer;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the house boot shown with the strap means utilized for securing the house boot to the shoe of a wearer in an inoperative position;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, the shoe being shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 4 but showing a modified form of strap fastener and the manner in which it is secured to the boot; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the boot similar to that of FIGURE 2 but on a reduced scale and showing a modified form of strap fastening means.

Referring now more specifically t0 the drawings the numeral 1-1} generally designates the house boot comprising the present invention which includes a sole portion generally referred to by the reference numeral 12. The sole portion 12 is provided with an upstanding peripheral wall generally designated by the reference numeral 116 which is formed integrally therewith. The upstanding peripheral wall 16 includes a formed Wall 18 and a rear wall 20 which are interconnected by means of a pair of side walls 22. The walls 18, Ztl and 22 are continuous and are each provided with an inwardly projecting shoulder portion 24 adjacent the sole portion 12. Thus, the upper inner surfaces 26 of the peripheral wall 16 are laterally olfset outwardly from the lower inner surfaces 28 of the peripheral wall 16.

The sole portion 12 is provided with a raised shank portion 30 intermediate its ends which defines a forward portion 32 and a rear portion 34 of the recess generally referred to by the reference numeral 36 formed between the confronting surfaces of the peripheral walls 16. The forward portion 32 and the rear portion 34 of the recess 36 receive the sole 38 and heel W of the shoe which is generally designated by the reference numeral 42.

With particular attention directed to FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawings it will be noted that a peripheral pocket 44 is formed between the upper surfaces 26 of the peripheral wall 16 and the adjacent surfaces of the shoe 42. This pocket 44 is adapted to catch and collect any loose par ticles of foreign material which may become dislodged from the upper surfaces of the shoe 42.

With particular attention directed now to FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that a strap means generally referred to by the reference numeral 46 is secured between the sides 22 of the peripheral wall 16. The strap means 46 includes a pair of strap-like elements 48 and St? which each have an end secured to one of the sides 22 of the peripheral wall 16. The free ends of the straps 43 and 50 are registerable and the confronting surfaces thereof are provided with interlocking means in the form of a fabric pad generally referred to by the reference numeral 52. Each of the fabric pads 52 is provided with a plurality of resilient hook-like members 54 which project outwardly therefrom. The hook-like members 54 on each of the pads 52 are releasably engageable with each other and the fabric pads may be constructed in a manner disclosed in Patent No. 2,717,437, issued September 13, 1955.

It will be noted that each of the straps 48 and 50 is secured to the corresponding side 22 of the peripheral Wall 16 in any convenient means such as stitching 56.

With reference now to FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings, there will be seen a modified form of strap means generally designated by the reference numeral 28 which includes a pair of straps 60 and 62 each having one end secured to the upper surfaces 26 of the corresponding side 22 of the peripheral wall 16 in any convenient manner such such as glueing 64. A buckle assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 66 is secured to the free end of the strap 62 and the free end of the strap 58 is apertured as at 63 for engagement with the buckle assembly 66 in a manner which is deemed to be obvious.

In operation, the strap means 46 or 58 may be utilized to secure the boot 10 to the shoe 42 as hereinbefore set forth. Then, the wearer of the shoe 42 will not track dirt and the like clinging to the shoe 42 on the flooring or flooring covering over which he is walking. When it is desired, the boot 10 may be removed and properly cleaned prior to its subsequent use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A house boot adapted for securemcnt to shoes for preventing foreign material clinging to either the soles or top of a shoe and soiling flooring or floor coverings, said boot comprising an elongated sole portion adapted to conform in plan shape and size to the sole of a shoe, continuous peripheral upstanding walls carried by said sole portion and projecting upwardly therefrom defining a recess in said boot adapted to receive the lower portion of a shoe, and means secured between opposite side walls of said boot adapted to embrace and overlie the vamp of a shoe for securing the boot thereto, said sole portion and peripheral walls constructed of a resilient material, said peripheral walls, adjacent said sole portion, having continuous inwardly projecting shoulder portions having inner surfaces adapted to abut the side surfaces of a shoe sole in surface to surface contacting relation there- Further, since numerous with along the vertical extent of the side surfaces of said shoe sole wherein the inner surfaces of said peripheral walls above said shoulder portions are laterally offset outwardly from the inner surfaces of said shoulder portions and define an upwardly opening continuous soil collection pocket extending about said boot for collecting foreign material which has become loosened from said shoe.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sole portion and said peripheral walls are integrally formed.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a pair of strap portions, each having an end secured to one of said opposite side walls, and means on the free ends of said strap portions for interlocking releasable engagement with each other.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said interlocking means includes a buckle carried by one of said strap portions and an apertured tongue portion carried by the other strap portion.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a pair of strap portions, each having an end secured to one of said opposite side Walls, and means on the free ends of said strap portions for interlocking releasable engagement with each other, said interlocking means comprising fabric pads secured to the free ends of said strap portions, each of said fabric pads having a plurality of resilient hook-like members projecting outwardly therefrom and opening inwardly, the hook-like members of said pads being releasably engageable with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 582,082 OBrien May 4, 1897 2,173,702 Winkel Sept. 19, 1939 2,287,744 Monahan June 23, 1942 2,717,437 De Mestral Sept. 13, 1955 2,801,478 Gilbert Aug. 6, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 179,427 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1935 1,037,244 France Apr. 29, 1953 1,092,165 France Nov. 3, 1954 

